Family appeals to Sonia to intervene to secure release of Kanshi Ram

Chandigarh, June 30 (UNI) The family of Mr Kanshi Ram today appealed to Congress President Sonia Gandhi to use her influence and office to secure the release of the Bahujan Samajwadi Party leader from the alleged custody of party president Mayawati.

''We ask Ms Sonia Gandhi to intervene on humanitarian grounds and put pressure on Ms Mayawati to hand over Mr Kanshi Ram to his family,'' Mr Dalbara Singh and Ms Swarn Kaur, brother and sister of Mr Kanshi Ram respectively, said at a press conference here.

They alleged that Mr Kanshi Ram is held ''captive'' at the New Delhi residence of Ms Mayawati who has declared him ''ill''. If Mr Kanshi Ram is seriously ill he should be admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences for treatment, they demanded.

Mr Dalbara Singh said Mr Kanshi Ram' family has decided to intensify struggle and would not hesitate to form the ''Kanshi Ram Commando Force'' to secure his release. The Kanshi Ram Bachao Sangharash Committee is holding ''dharna'' in New Delhi from May 10 in this regard. ''To show our protest the committee has planned to organise a demonstration in front of Parliament on July 8,'' e added.

He said the Kanshi Ram Bachao Sangharash Committee would contest the forthcoming Assembly elections in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttranchal.

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